Candle tunnelling, where the wax melts only in the middle and leaves a thick layer around the edges, can be fixed with a common kitchen item that costs around £1. The trick, shared on TikTok by user Jaded, involves wrapping the candle in a tin foil blanket to stop the wax from tunnelling. She described it as her "favourite hack of the year".
Jaded also said preventing the problem in the first place is even easier: make sure the wax melts all the way to the edges during the first burn, although she admitted it is "not foolproof".
What the experts say
While the tin foil trick can help tackle tunnelling, candle experts say there are a few other things you can do to make sure your candle burns properly. The team at WoodWick recommends leaving candles lit for around three to four hours for the "best burn results", while making sure the wax has melted all the way to the edge before putting the flame out.
They explain that this can take around 30 to 60 minutes and allowing the wax to form an even pool helps prevent tunnelling and stops wax being left around the sides of the container. The experts also note that the flame height can sometimes change or even appear to go out by itself. However, they say this can be normal and that a low flame should eventually return to its usual height as it continues to heat the wax.
Don't forget to trim the wick
Keeping the wick trimmed is another important part of getting the most out of your candle. If your wick does need trimming, WoodWick advises extinguishing the candle first and allowing both the wax and wick to cool completely. You can then trim the burnt edges down to around 6mm, making sure any pieces of wick or debris are removed before lighting the candle again.
Know when to say goodbye
WoodWick recommends stopping when there is around 6mm of wax remaining. At this point, the candle should be extinguished and the container recycled according to your local recycling centre's guidance. But that doesn't necessarily mean the end of your candle's life. If you don't want to throw away the empty jar, you could give it a new lease of life by cleaning it out and upcycling it into something useful for your home.
